Air Corps air ambulance

[na grohmiti]

Yes and a much needed service but doesn’t the SAR contract also include more use for air ambulance ?

not necessarily a bad thing of course

Not in the same way it seems. This is HEMS.

[Rhodes]

Yes and a much needed service but doesn’t the SAR contract also include more use for air ambulance ?

not necessarily a bad thing of course

CHC was banned from carrying out air ambulance flights a few years ago by the IAA for violating aviation law.

[DeV]

I didn’t notice it before but plan is for this HEMS service to go operational in Q3 2022

[DeV]

Maybe it won’t

Awarding of contract for medical helicopter service in southwest is challenged in court

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2022/09/06/awarding-of-contract-for-medical-helicopter-service-in-southwest-is-challenged-in-court/

[DeV]

Sloane have been awarded NI contract

https://forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/forum/non-military/general/14400-for-all-you-aerosexuals-out-there?p=735903#post735903

[na grohmiti]

Don't they operate the Cork based helis too?

[DeV]

Don't they operate the Cork based helis too?

Think so yes, for now…. HSE has gone to tender to bring it under their wing (pun not intended)

see previous post, Sloane is taking HSE to court having failed to win the tender

[DeV]

Strangely ICAA has a tender out for a 4x4 Rapid Response Vehicle (to be based in Mayo)

they are obviously going to keep that part of the model which is good

[na grohmiti]

Founders of air ambulance grounded as contract awarded to Malta-based firm (irishexaminer.com)
Sloane have failed to win the contract for the Cork Based heli. Not sitting well round these parts, given that the Charity operation set up and demonstrated the capability with Sloane. Now the new body gets to set up where the hard work has been done. ICAA took a private airstrip and turned it into a 24hr Air Ambulance base with a team of experienced volunteers.
Hopefully now though the HSE has committed to fully fund the vital service.

[DeV]

Founders of air ambulance grounded as contract awarded to Malta-based firm (irishexaminer.com)
Sloane have failed to win the contract for the Cork Based heli. Not sitting well round these parts, given that the Charity operation set up and demonstrated the capability with Sloane. Now the new body gets to set up where the hard work has been done. ICAA took a private airstrip and turned it into a 24hr Air Ambulance base with a team of experienced volunteers.
Hopefully now though the HSE has committed to fully fund the vital service.

ICAA showed the need and did the ground work and really forced the HSE to act to back them.

The charity model unless it has a major sponsor is unsustainable as they also proved.

The advantage of it is when that model was failing thE HSE (for purely political reasons) had to be made to step in.

All across the health, education and housing sectors, charities & NGOs are stepping up to cover up inadequate delivery of public services by the State (ironically mainly funded by the State and charity donations/fundraising - ie funded by taxpayers).

While the road ICRR service was 24/7, the helicopter is daylight only.

[GoneToTheCanner]

All across the health, education and housing sectors, charities & NGOs are stepping up to cover up inadequate delivery of public services by the State (ironically mainly funded by the State and charity donations/fundraising - ie funded by taxpayers).

While the road ICRR service was 24/7, the helicopter is daylight only.

Correct. It's cheaper and easier to deal with a civvy non-CS NGO than it is with full time CS. It suits both the State and the CS as it takes the burden off them and they avoid the difficult questions when things go wrong. The NGO get taxpayers money and it's winner, winner all round.

[Jaque'ammer]

Like it or lump it, the private sector agencies just have the talent the CS does not. My company originally ran the contract for a regional section of a government body before taking over the entire national scope of it. From what I've seen, the CS just did not have the expertise or maturity to run it properly.

I have my criticisms of my employer though. Milking the state for cash at every possible point is how they all operate unfortunately.

[DeV]

Like it or lump it, the private sector agencies just have the talent the CS does not.

Take health and special education sectors…. Most of the NGOs (eg Cancer support groups, special schools etc) were set up because (unlike Government, Civil Service and HSE) they saw a need and were willing to do something about it



To come back to the thread, the only reason EAS exists is some backbench TDs getting it in the neck about hospital closures. ICRR only exists because a few dedicated individuals saw a need and wouldn’t take no for an answer

[DeV]

Ambulance service to make Air Ambulance paramedics permanent at bases in Cork and Athlone

https://www.thejournal.ie/air-ambulance-emergency-aeromedical-service-ireland-paramedics-6288885-Feb2024/?utm_source=shortlink

[Rhodes]

The HSE are tendering for more air ambulances.

Single Party Framework for Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS)

The HSE hereby invites suitably qualified and experienced service providers to submit tenders for the provision of a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the National Ambulance Service (NAS). The tender will be in three lots as follows: Lot 1 South West Lot 2 Midlands Lot 3 West/North West Lot 1 South West is required to be operational from 1st March 2025 Providing daylight HEMS service operating from the South West of Ireland with the clinical crewing provided by NAS HEMS Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians. Lot 2 Midlands and Lot 3 West/North West may be awarded when the current agreements expire and only if it value for money is achieved by the HSE/NAS. The suitable provider will be responsible for the provision of a HEMS day-light service in three geographical locations in Ireland (South, East and West) for a Paramedic-led (or Medically supported) HEMS team with the capability of accommodating a three person medical team and patient on a critical care level patient platform. To provide daylight HEMS service on the island of Ireland based out of South West, West/North West and Midlands (location to be determined) with the East unit being capable of providing retrieval service for all Hospital of critical ill and injured patients needing transfer to primary centres 24/7 (Helipad to Helipad).National Ambulance Service will provide Clinical care in the rear of the aircraft and also the daily HEMS tasking through our NEOC National Emergency Operations Centre. For HEMS operations there will be 1 to 2 Medic in rear managing patient care and for Retrieval services this can vary from 2 to 4 persons depending on complexity of the care required.

Fixed Wing Air Ambulance Services (24/7/365)

The HSE hereby invites suitably qualified and experienced service providers to submit tenders for the provision of an Emergency Fixed Wing Air Ambulance Services. The Emergency Fixed Wing Air Ambulance Services will be based at an airport in Dublin providing emergency air ambulance transfer service 24/7/365. The principle requirements are the transfer, via air ambulance, of patients from Ireland to another jurisdiction (mainly the UK), or organs and/or organ retrieval teams usually within Ireland, often in emergency situations. The entire provision of the service would be the remit of the service Provider